If you're thinking about creating a dedicated home office or doing a refresh of your current space, you might be wondering how to start or where is best to put it.
Not everyone has the luxury of a spare room to use, but there are clever ways you can make the most of your space to help create the right work/life balance.
Experts say there are a few important things to consider before you get started, including the type of work you do, the impact of other household members and the space's ergonomics.
A designated workspace is a 'must'
Professor Paula Brough says working from home is still "very popular" in Australia, despite efforts by some organisations to encourage employees back into the office.
"We're not really seeing a major change," says the director of the Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing at Griffith University.
But before you put your laptop back on the kitchen bench for your working week, she says there are several reasons why it's important to have a designated office space or workstation.
"There are issues around how it impacts performance," she says.
"For example, if you feel that you are going to a specific area in your house, then there's a psychological impetus to almost feel as if you're going to work.
"You can take a break away from that desk and, importantly, at the end of the work day, you should be able to ideally walk away from that."
Design and technology teacher and qualified interior designer Robyn Hawke is based at Bidjigal lands/Castle Hill, New South Wales.
She says if you can't have a designated room, try to create a workstation you can "shut off" at the end of the day, like a fold-away or wall-mounted desk.
"Because the hardest part about working from home is the fact that whenever you walk past, if you can see the office space you think 'oh, I've got to go and do that email' or 'I'll just write that report'," she says.
"And avoid setting it up in a high-traffic area, near a television or somewhere you'll constantly be disturbed."
Which room is best for a home office or workstation?
Our experts say this largely depends on the type of work that you do.
Professor Brough says that if your work requires lots of focus and concentration, "a quiet space, ideally on your own is preferable" to be the most productive.
But if you're in a type of job where you're used to being more sociable, discussing issues and more of a creative job, "then having people in the same room around the same kitchen table, might not be as detrimental to your work performance".
Ms Hawke recommends having "a separate external entrance or [having it] located at the front of the house" if you are having people come to your home office.
"You don't want people having to walk through your family's daily mess in the kitchen," she says.
"Because it detracts from who you are as a professional."
She says this could be a spare bedroom or garage space that's been converted into an office.
But if you do decide on a garage space, she recommends investing in either heating or cooling appliances to help with temperature control.
Ms Hawke says an area where you can control sound is also "vital".
"So, if you're on a business call or a Teams meeting, you haven't got the kids screaming in the background or the neighbour's dogs barking."
She says if you have no space left inside the house, you might consider using your backyard if your budget allows.
"You can rent small portable standalone offices," she says.
"They're not big, you can hire them for as long as you need and they install them for you."
From cupboard to office nook
Kirsty Bramwell wanted to create a home office space she could close off from her clients, so the holistic wellness entrepreneur from Brisbane/Meanjin decided to convert a cupboard in an existing work room.
"I didn't want to have cables and wires and computers out in the open because it takes away from the energy of relaxation," she says.
"I had a vision, and I basically just painted the insides and removed all the racks, stripped it out and then measured for a desk."
She says the whole DIY project cost just over $350, and she made it cosy by drawing inspiration from the .
"I added little candles and a touch of nature, that adds to the warmth of the space," she says.
Invest in an ergonomically friendly set-up
Whatever room you decide on, investing in a quality office desk, chair and equipment is important.
Professor Brough says poor ergonomic design can cause "either injury and/or increased fatigue for workers".
"Some employers will come out and help you set up your workspace to fit your specific ergonomic requirements," she says.
"So that will reduce the potential for you to have work injuries, extra fatigue caused by the screens not being the right distance from your eyes or the correct brightness and so forth."
Whether you have a sitting or standing desk, there are some basic rules to try to follow to help with the ergonomics.
Ms Hawke says height-adjustable desks provide flexibility to switch between sitting and standing positions, while a chair with good lumbar support will also promote good posture.
She says having a second sitting area set up can also help keep you engaged in work.
"In my home office, there are two of us that work from home, so there's not enough room for a [casual sitting] chair," she says.
"However, I can walk out onto the deck to a nice outdoor chair, I can read an article or a proposal out there on my laptop."
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